RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{336D282B-65D7-41A9-9344-59A82B0599AD}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/6-kids-games-that-burn-more-calories-than-you-think/6 Kids Games that Burn More Calories than you Think<p>When playing with your children, you burn significantly more calories that you would if you were engaging in slower-paced activities. Here's a comparison of calories burned between six adult activities and six kids' games based on 30 minutes of the activity.</p>
<p><strong>ADULT</strong></p>
<p>Elliptical Trainer - 182 calories<br />
Stationary Rower - 219 calories<br />
Downhill Skiing - 157 calories<br />
Walking 3.5 mph - 157 calories<br />
Mowing Lawn - 120 calories<br />
Putting Away Groceries - 50 calories</p>
<p><strong>KIDS' GAMES</strong></p>
<p>Marco Polo in the Pool - 200 calories<br />
Playground Games - 170 calories (<em>hopscotch, 4-square, t-ball, etc.</em>)<br />
Casual Soccer Game - 204 calories<br />
Jumping Rope - 238 calories<br />
Roller Blading - 374 calories<br />
Touch Football - 150 calories</p>
<p>So the next time your child ask you to go out and play, you should take them up on the offer. It will be heart healthy, fun and memorable. <strong>So get out and play!</strong></p>
<p><br />
</p>Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{AC8EB99B-D857-4A60-837F-9F6EA043110E}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/three-things-we-need-before-the-data-storm-breaks/“Somethin&#39; is brewin&#39;”: three things we need before the data storm breaks <p>Last week Farzad Mostashari, my colleague and friend, grabbed an umbrella, channeled Gene Kelly, and marched down the halls of the Warden Park Marriott in Washington, D.C. promoting awareness of patients&rsquo; desires for access to their healthcare data. Unfortunately, the issue is a little less &ldquo;Singing in the Rain&rdquo; and more &ldquo;Step in Time&rdquo; from Mary Poppins. We can&rsquo;t just open up access to data individually. It&rsquo;s critically important that we get interoperability tools in place before the data torrents begin to fall. </p>
<p>We&rsquo;ve all heard about the benefits of electronic health records like the long anticipated elimination of redundant patient paperwork. No one wants to fill out another medical history form&mdash;repeating the medications, surgeries, and family health complexities none of us accurately remember. The standardized flow of electronic patient data will move the nation toward supporting individuals making the best decisions about their health and healthcare. This will ultimately lead to better care and lower costs, but we can&rsquo;t get there dancing alone. We&mdash;healthcare providers, organizations, payers, and the government&mdash;need to commit to standards if we&rsquo;re going to sweep things into order.</p>
<p>True interoperability will allow clinicians and patients to have the information they need when they need it. But we&mdash;and our patients&mdash;aren&rsquo;t ready to deal with a deluge of data if it&rsquo;s contextually unusable. Until we have three tools in place, we can&rsquo;t effectively liberate our patients&rsquo; information.</p>
<ol>
<li>Technical standards for data architecture. Different systems use data in different ways; the technology to move data is not difficult to implement, but a lack of standards only makes sharing data difficult and expensive.</li>
<li>An effective way to match patient records. We need nationwide support to identify duplicate records and eliminating the potential co-mingling of different patients.</li>
<li>Mature security and privacy standards. We&rsquo;re underperforming in our ability to protect data as a society. Every organization is working hard to protect data, but we need to be more cohesive in our approach to funding security efforts and responding to cyber-threats.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<p>So, yes, let&rsquo;s liberate data. Indeed, rally behind these campaigns, but remember that data will only be meaningful when we can exchange it effectively, ensure that we can share it securely, and accurately attach it to the right patient. We&rsquo;re not ready for yellow slickers yet. Standards, like a spoonful of sugar, help the interoperability of medicine go down.</p>Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{014CA942-1E3C-4F37-B60E-7F54F4B44917}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/how-important-is-an-annual-physical-exam-to-your-health/How Important is an Annual Physical Exam to Your Health?<p class="p1">In fact, a resounding 92 percent of Americans feel it&rsquo;s crucial to see their family physician annually for a head-to-toe check up, and 45 million Americans do just that every year.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">But are annual physicals really necessary? Is it just a money-maker for doctors? And, can these exams cause more harm than help?</p>
<p class="p1">These are just a few of the questions physicians and healthcare systems around the nation are examining. News organizations throughout the country have also joined the discussion, which has created some confusion for consumers.</p>
<p class="p1">Scott Hollingshaus, MD, an internist at Riverton Hospital, says <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org" target="_blank">Intermountain Healthcare</a>&nbsp;recommends an annual exam for all patients because they help patients live healthier lifestyles, conduct diagnostic screenings, and prevent behavioral-related ailments.</p>
<p class="p1">Regular check-ups are also recommended by major medical societies, such as the American College of Physicians and the <a href="http://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ACOG-Departments/Annual-Womens-Health-Care/Your-Annual-Health-Care-Visit">American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists</a>.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;I recommend annual exams and find them to be valuable for both patients and physicians,&rdquo; says Dr. Hollingshaus. &ldquo;In my young healthy patients, with good lifestyles, I don&rsquo;t stress they need one every year, but at least every few years.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Apart from cancer and other screenings, such as diabetes and heart disease, the exam is beneficial to answer patient questions about health and lifestyle and to help steer them in the right direction. It&rsquo;s also helpful to document any normal variants on the physical exam to refer to in future visits. Addressing misconceptions about health and discussing lifestyle behaviors that may lead to disease in the future is very helpful. There&rsquo;s considerable data showing that simple interventions such as these can result in behavior changes when the interventions are given regularly.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">In fact, Intermountain has several Health and Wellness Centers ­­&ndash; <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/parkcitymedical/services/live-well/healthy-lifestyle-evaluation/Pages/home.aspx">Park City</a>, <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/medicalgroup/clinics/physicianclinics/live-well-salt-lake/services/Pages/health-exam.aspx">Salt Lake</a> and <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/dixie/services/live-well/services/Pages/fitness-evaluation.aspx">St. George</a> &ndash; that offer an executive health screening, in which patients receive an overall benchmark of their current health and fitness in a timely manner as well as a "roadmap" for maintaining their health in the future.</p>
<p class="p1">Here are some perspectives that have been covered in the news media: &nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>New York Times<br />
</strong><em><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/ask-well-do-i-need-an-annual-physical/?_r=0">Ask Well: Do I Need an Annual Physical?</a><br />
</em>By Karen Weintraub</p>
<p class="p3">&ldquo;If you didn&rsquo;t go in for a complete physical, you&rsquo;re only going to the doctor when you&rsquo;re sick, and that makes absolutely no sense,&rdquo; said Pieter Cohen, MD, an internist with the Cambridge Health Alliance and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.</p>
<p class="p3">&ldquo;A physical is a good time for patients to check in about medications and whether their benefits still outweigh possible side-effects, Dr. Cohen said. Physicals also provide doctor and patient a chance to get to know each other without the stress of a crisis, said David Himmelstein, MD, a professor of public health at City University of New York.</p>
<p class="p3">&ldquo;&rsquo;I think I take better care of people if I know who they are and have some sense of connection to them,&rsquo; said Dr. Himmelstein, who sees his internist every year or so.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>CNN<br />
</strong><em><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/health/annual-physical-ritual-costly/">Your annual physical is a costly ritual, not smart medicine</a><br />
</em>By Jenny Gold</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Annual exams are free for most insurance companies as most preventive exams are under the Affordable Care Act. With patients who insist on coming in every year, many physicians are skipping the physical aspects of the test and focus on talking to them about their dietary and exercise habits, possible risks, age-appropriate vaccinations and any screening tests they may need.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">"&rsquo;I think having a look at somebody is worth its weight in gold,&rsquo; says Mark Caruso, MD. &ldquo;It's an important part of developing a relationship with a patient, he says, and there have been countless times when he's found real problems during an exam just like the one he gave to his patient Emanuel Vega.</p>
<p class="p1">"&rsquo;What if Mr. Vega had had a lump or bump that wasn't right?&rsquo; Caruso asks. &rsquo;What if when he had his shirt off, Mr. Vega said, &ldquo;Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this spot on my chest,' and it ended up being a melanoma we discovered early?&rdquo;&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>New York Times<br />
</strong><em><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/opinion/skip-your-annual-physical.html">Skip Your Annual Exam</a><br />
</em>By <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/e/ezekiel_j_emanuel/">Ezekiel J. Emanuel</a></p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;From a health perspective, the annual physical exam is basically worthless. Studies of annual health exams dating from 1963 to 1999 show that the annual physicals did not reduce mortality overall or for specific causes of death from cancer or heart disease. And the checkups consume billions, although no one is sure exactly how many billions because of the challenge of measuring the additional screenings and follow-up tests.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Part of the reason is psychological; the exam provides an opportunity to talk and reaffirm the physician-patient relationship even if there is no specific complaint. There is also habit. It&rsquo;s hard to change something that&rsquo;s been recommended by physicians and medical organizations for more than 100 years. And then there is skepticism about the research. Almost everyone thinks they know someone whose annual exam detected a minor symptom that led to the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, or some similar lifesaving story.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;These are proven to reduce morbidity and mortality. Those who preach the gospel of the routine physical have to produce the data to show why these physician visits are beneficial. If they cannot, join me and make a new resolution: My medical routine won&rsquo;t include an annual exam. That will free up countless hours of doctors&rsquo; time for patients who really do have a medical problem.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">So, there you have it. Some say annual exams are not needed, while others say they&rsquo;re worth their weight in gold. Some insist they enhance the doctor-patient relationship while others say they do them just in case. You&rsquo;ll need to decide what&rsquo;s best for you.</p>Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2B420CCD-9042-4343-9511-2880D7DF8B51}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/seven-days-of-superfoods/Seven Days of Superfoods<p>&ldquo;Superfood&rdquo; is a popular buzzword in the media these days because superfoods contain several nutrients that may prevent cancers and heart disease. They also play a role in stress management, eye and vision health, skin health, and even weight management. </p>
<p>So&hellip;what makes a food a &ldquo;superfood,&rdquo; and what does it mean to be &ldquo;super?&rdquo; Super nutritious? Super convenient? <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2013/04/nutrition-fact-or-fiction" target="_blank">Super disease-fighting?</a> Super tasty? The answer: YES, to all the above. </p>
<p>Superfoods are simply foods that have more concentrated amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals than other comparable whole foods. </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Vitamins and minerals</strong> are essential micronutrients the body needs to metabolize food, make energy, and support vital biological systems.</li>
<li><strong style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Antioxidants</strong><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> fight free radicals and other disease-causing agents that could&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">potentially cause atherosclerosis and cancer.</span></li>
<li><strong>Phytochemicals</strong> are non-nutritive biological active plant chemicals that play an important role preventing disease.</li>
</ul>
<p>Superfoods have one or more phytonutrients and usually are fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.</p>
<p>Many people take a multivitamin or other supplement to fill any gaps in their vitamin and mineral intake in case their diet is lacking. Incorporating superfoods into a balanced diet can ensure you get all the essential nutrients you need from a whole <em>real </em>food source (which is always better!) Plus, if you are worried your budget and time don&rsquo;t allow for healthy eating habits, think again! Superfoods can be quick and ready to eat without needing a lot of preparation.</p>
<p>Check out these ideas for 7 days of superfoods!&nbsp;</p>
<p>Monday: Start your week off right with some tasty <strong><em><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/blueberries-may-lower-blood-pressure/?_r=0" target="_blank">blueberries</a>. </em></strong>Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Additionally, research has found that eating blueberries may increase your body&rsquo;s natural killer cells to improve immune function. Mix them in with your favorite yogurt or cereal, or freeze them for a fun summer treat. Shopping for blueberries in the summer during their peak season will keep you on budget. </p>
<p>Tuesday: <strong><em>Fish </em></strong>taco Tuesday anyone? Fish such as salmon is rich in Vitamin B12 and the healthy-for-you omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids minimize inflammation that can lead to heart disease. High levels of cortisone and other stress hormones may cause inflammation as well, so, fight your stress with fish! If you don&rsquo;t have the time or budget for salmon, try sardines on top of your lunch salad.</p>
<p>Wednesday: <strong><em>Avocados</em></strong> are just what you need to get you through hump day. Also loaded with B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, avocados will you keep you feeling full longer, so you will be prepared to stave off the afternoon munchies. Slice some up over whole wheat toast for the perfect afternoon snack.</p>
<p>Thursday: <strong><em>Barley</em></strong>-not just for beer! Barley has more fiber than any other whole grain; 32 grams per cup! Research has proven time and again that fiber may help lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugars, promote regularity, and even support weight management. Not to mention the texture is really amazing. Add to your soups for a fun mouth feel!</p>
<p>Friday: Gear up for the weekend with the super foods <strong><em>spinach </em></strong>and <strong><em>kale</em></strong>! Spinach has more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin K in just one cup, and kale is filled with Vitamins A and C. Both contain a carotenoid called lutein that supports vision and may prevent macular degeneration. New research supports increasing lutein intake during pregnancy to facilitate healthy vision development in fetuses. Make a chopped salad with both types of greens or add them to a &ldquo;green&rdquo; smoothie.</p>
<p>Saturday: Indulge in a (little) <strong><em>dark chocolate. </em></strong>Dark chocolate has flavanols and antioxidants to fight heart disease by lowering blood pressure and increasing blood flow. Get your sweetie&rsquo;s heart pounding with a delicious date night treat of dark chocolate pieces and pears.</p>
<p>Sunday: Have an afternoon <strong><em>tea </em></strong>party! There is solid evidence that tea consumption is associated with lower risk for heart disease and stroke. Tea is calorie free and there are over 3,000 varieties of tea worldwide. Tea is a perfect substitute for high calorie sweetened beverages if you don&rsquo;t want to give up your flavored beverages and are trying to watch your calories.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
</p>
<p>For more information, visit <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/nutrition-services/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Intermountain Healthcare Nutrition Services.</a></p>Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{6CA50E86-C9FE-4701-A970-88279A065758}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/when-is-a-snore-more-than-a-snore/When Is a Snore More Than a Snore<p>Every day millions of Americans wake up in the morning feeling unrested and unprepared for the day ahead of them. It is as if they didn&rsquo;t sleep at all the night before. For many, the reason is just that: undiagnosed <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/uvrmc/services/sleepcenter/disorders-treatments/Pages/sleep-apnea.aspx" target="_blank">obstructive sleep apnea</a> (OSA) kept them awake the entire night, despite thinking they had a full night&rsquo;s sleep. </p>
<p>&ldquo;Obstructive sleep apnea,&rdquo; says David Moon, a clinical respiratory therapist with Intermountain Homecare &amp; Hospice, &ldquo;is a condition in which the soft tissue in the throat closes over the airway and halts breathing during sleep for ten or more seconds at a time &ndash; sometimes up to a full minute &ndash; before the body wakes itself up, gasping for air. In severe cases, these apneic events can happen hundreds or thousands of times a night. People with undiagnosed OSA think they&rsquo;re <a target="_blank" href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2014/01/secrets-for-getting-a-good-night-sleep/">sleeping</a>, but in reality they are never actually resting.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that 18 million Americans, or one in 15, have OSA</strong>. The majority of them never having been diagnosed with the condition.</p>
<p>Common warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea can include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Waking up with a sore or dry throat</li>
<li>Loud snoring</li>
<li>Excessive daytime sleepiness</li>
<li>Drowsiness while driving</li>
<li>Morning headaches</li>
<li>Attention or memory problems</li>
</ul>
<p>If left untreated OSA can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and increased risk for heart attack or stroke. Luckily, once the condition is diagnosed, treatment can be quite simple. Most commonly OSA is treated with a <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=520707916" target="_blank">positive airway pressure</a> (PAP) device that uses blown air to keep your airway open while you sleep. </p>
<p>If you think you may have or are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, have a conversation with your doctor about whether you should participate in a sleep study.&nbsp; </p>Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{EE46A6F4-304A-4160-A5C0-EEC1345FCFEE}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/heart-healthy-recipe-fudge-black-bean-brownie/Heart-healthy Recipe: Fudgy Black Bean Brownies<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1 (15oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed</li>
<li>3 large eggs</li>
<li>3 tablespoons canola oil</li>
<li>3/4 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder</li>
<li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional)</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon baking powder</li>
<li>Pinch of salt</li>
<li>1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Lightly oil or coat an 8"x8" baking pan or dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.</li>
<li>Place black beans in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, oil, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, peppermint extract (if desired), baking powder and salt. Process until smooth.</li>
<li>Add 1/4 cup of the chips and pulse a few times until the chips are incorporated.</li>
<li>Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top with a rubber spatula and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.</li>
<li>Back 30-35 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the side of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before slicing into 2-inch squares.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>NUTRITIONAL FACTS</strong></p>
<p>Amount per serving: 135 kcals; 19g carbs; 6g fat; 3g protein.</p>
<p><em>Recipe developed by <a href="http://mealmakeovermoms.com/kitchen/2009/07/10/black-bean-brownies/" target="_blank">Meal Makeover Moms</a></em></p>Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{B9354AE5-C091-4FAA-ABEF-70492637BC93}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/helping-new-graduates-stay-safe-parents-stay-sane-graduation-season/Helping New Graduates Stay Safe – And Their Parents Stay Sane – This Graduation Season<p class="p1">Jake Lipscomb is graduating from Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, this week. He&rsquo;s the first child in his family to graduate. The main thing on his mind is his future. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m worried about finding a job where I don&rsquo;t have to sell my soul,&rdquo; he says.</p>
<p class="p1">Jake&rsquo;s mom Tiffiny, on the other hand, has other concerns. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an adult, but I don&rsquo;t want him to think he&rsquo;s beyond my rules. Graduates are in celebration mode, where they aren&rsquo;t thinking &mdash; more so than normal,&rdquo; she says.</p>
<p class="p1">Dave Hasleton, MD, an emergency physician at <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/rivertonhospital/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Riverton Hospital</a>, knows what graduates, and parents, need to watch out for &ndash; people driving under the influence. &nbsp;</p>
<p class="p2">&ldquo;Drunk driving is an especially dangerous threat on graduation night,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;And it threatens everyone &mdash; drivers, families, and victims.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Here are tips to help graduates and their parents have a safe and happy graduation:</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>FOR STUDENTS:</strong></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Share your graduation and post-graduation plans with parents.</li>
<li class="li1">Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.</li>
<li class="li1">Wear a seatbelt &ndash; even in the back seat.</li>
<li class="li1">Stay with a group of friends and watch out for one another.</li>
<li class="li1">Don&rsquo;t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.</li>
<li class="li1">Don&rsquo;t get in a vehicle with a driver who&rsquo;s under the influence of drugs or alcohol.</li>
<li class="li1">Report any illegal drug or alcohol use as well as unsafe behaviors such as threats, assaults, and weapons.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>FOR PARENTS:</strong></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Be aware of your student&rsquo;s plan for graduation and post-graduation.</li>
<li class="li1">Know who your son or daughter will be with and talk to their parents to coordinate plans.</li>
<li class="li1">Make sure your child&rsquo;s cell phone is fully charged.</li>
<li class="li1">Provide your child with the names and numbers of adults they can call &mdash; besides you &mdash; in case they feel unsafe.</li>
<li class="li1">Wait up for your child to make sure he or she returns safely.</li>
<li class="li1">Talk with your child about drugs and alcohol; set expectations.</li>
<li class="li1">Report any illegal drug or alcohol use as well as unsafe behaviors such as threats, assaults, and weapons.</li>
</ul>
<em>The tips are taken from</em> <a href="http://coveringkaty.com/2014/05/14/tips-staying-safe-graduation-season/">http://coveringkaty.com/2014/05/14/tips-staying-safe-graduation-season/</a><br />
<ul class="ul1"> </ul>Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2133826A-98CA-474A-B5CF-72C146AF72EA}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/white-house-forum-intermountain-address-drug-resistant-bacteria-integration-transparency/White House Forum Highlights Intermountain’s Support for National Effort to Address Drug-resistant Bacteria Through Integration and Transparency <p>More than <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/02/fact-sheet-over-150-animal-and-health-stakeholders-join-white-house-effo" target="_blank">150 medical experts, food companies, retailers, and health providers</a> were invited to the White House earlier this week to discuss how to slow the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and prevent the spread of resistant infections over the next five years. </p>
<p>&ldquo;In hospitals across our country, and in cities across the world, this threat grows,&rdquo; said Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, during the opening session of Tuesday&rsquo;s Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship at the White House. &ldquo;Still, our greatest threat isn&rsquo;t adaptations. It&rsquo;s actually our own in-action. That is why we are all here today. The challenge is great, but so is our will to meet it.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Intermountain Healthcare was one of the 150 organizations represented at the forum. Intermountain has a long history of fighting antibiotic resistance. Its commitment includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>A system-wide goal to reduce inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use for upper respiratory conditions by 50 percent by 2020.</li>
<li>Working to ensure that all Intermountain Healthcare acute care hospitals have antimicrobial stewardship programs by the end of 2017</li>
<li>Support for telemedicine efforts to extend infectious disease expertise to rural healthcare settings.</li>
<li>Continued collaboration with the CDC on reporting antimicrobial metrics used to appropriate benchmarks in similar-sized hospitals across the nation.</li>
</ul>
<p>Since 2012, Intermountain Healthcare has been a national leader in reporting antimicrobial metrics to the CDC for all of its acute-care hospitals. The metrics are used to define appropriate antimicrobial utilization and identify areas that can be improved. </p>
<p>Additional health systems throughout the country are now joining that effort. </p>
<p>During this week&rsquo;s forum, Eddie Stenehjem, MD, an infectious disease physician from Intermountain Medical Center who represented Intermountain Healthcare at the White House, identified four basic themes he feels are required for this problem to be directly addressed:</p>
<ol>
<li>All organizations that use antibiotics (humans and animals) need to be transparent about their use rates in order for useable metrics to be developed. </li>
<li>Improving antimicrobial prescribing is everyone&rsquo;s responsibility; this is a shared goal and will require collaboration between all stakeholders.&nbsp; </li>
<li>Develop national guidelines that define appropriate antibiotic use, which are shared by different infectious disease, surgical, and other medical associations.</li>
<li>Identify better diagnostic practices to help clinicians better identify bacterial infections that require the use of antibiotics.&nbsp; </li>
</ol>
<p>&ldquo;Antibiotic stewardship programs have been shown to improve quality of care and appropriate antibiotic use throughout our health system,&rdquo; said Dr. Stenehjem. &ldquo;Collaboration and transparency of our research and sharing our experiences with other organizations across the nation is a priority to us, and we hope it will extend the benefit of antimicrobial stewardship programs to other health systems and stakeholders.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The American College of Physicians estimates that doctors prescribe 133 million courses of antibiotics each year. However, roughly 50 percent of those prescriptions are considered unnecessary, since they&rsquo;re prescribed for common viral infections such as the common cold or cough. </p>
<p>&ldquo;If we lose antibiotics, we undermine much of our ability to care and cure,&rdquo; said Tom Frieden, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and one of the key presenters at the forum. &ldquo;We risk turning back the clock to when simple infections could kill.&rdquo;</p>
<p>During the opening session, Dr. Frieden shared three patient stories that illustrated the challenges the nation faces in antibiotic use. The stories highlighted the fact that some patients receive antibiotics unnecessarily while others may not receive them promptly enough. Additionally, some infections out there have few or no antibiotics. </p>
&ldquo;We need to fight this fight,&rdquo; concluded Secretary Burwell. &ldquo;The threat is real. The time to act is now. We know that lives are on the line. But we can meet this challenge and we will find a solution. Together we will win this fight and our road to victory starts here today.&rdquo;<br />Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{68318364-18C9-4AFF-B365-4E483EFD69F5}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/how-to-get-started-with-your-own-exercise-plan/How to Get Started with Your Own Exercise Plan<p><strong><em>Frequency: </em></strong>How <em>often</em> you exercise</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For cardio, the goal is </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">150 minutes per week</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> of aerobic activity.&nbsp; This works out to be roughly 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days per week.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For strength training, the goal is to work each major muscle group once per week on non-consecutive days per week.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Intensity: </em></strong>How <em>hard</em> you exercise</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The goal is to work within a </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">moderate</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> workload.&nbsp; Try the talk-test while exercising:&nbsp; you are able to talk and carry on a conversation with a friend while walking, but you don&rsquo;t have enough air to sing.&nbsp; This helps you to stay in the right range.&nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Time: </em></strong>How <em>long</em> you exercise</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The American Heart Association suggests getting 30 &ndash; 60 minutes of aerobic on most days of the week.&nbsp; At a minimum, aim for 150 minutes per week.&nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>Type:</em></strong> The <em>type</em> of activity you do</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Any activity that gets your heart rate up counts as cardio.&nbsp; This includes walking, swimming, dancing, Zumba, cycling, etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For strength training, this includes any exercise using resistance.&nbsp; This could include bands, dumbbells, machines and your own bodyweight!&nbsp; Building strength will require more resistance. &nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>Wed, 03 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{65AB885F-F3A4-4A71-A52C-55150B39AB73}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/get-those-vegetables-planted-soon/Get Those Vegetables Planted Soon<p>It is important to plant your vegetables at the right time of the year. Your Tender and Very Tender vegetables should be planted as soon as possible for a successful harvest.</p>
<p>Tender vegetables include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Celery</li>
<li>Cucumber</li>
<li>Dry bean</li>
<li>New Zealand spinach</li>
<li>Snap bean</li>
<li>Summer squash</li>
<li>Sweet corn</li>
</ul>
<p>Very Tender vegetables include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Cantaloupe</li>
<li>Eggplant</li>
<li>Lima Bean</li>
<li>Pepper</li>
<li>Pumpkin</li>
<li>Tomato</li>
<li>Watermelon</li>
<li>Winter Squash</li>
</ul>
<p>Tender vegetables should be in the ground by June 1, and Very Tender vegetables should be planted by June 10. There is some wiggle room with this, as these are suggested vegetable planting dates, but it is important to get them in right away.</p>
<p>Carrots can still be planted by seed, as can dry beans, lima beans, snap beans and corn, as long as they are planted soon. At this point in the season it would probably be best if other vegetables were already started from a nursery, garden center or store. Purchase the vegetables you want and then transplant them into your garden.</p>
Whatever veggies you decide to plant and grow, get started soon to enjoy a bountiful harvest of nutritious vegetables this summer and fall.Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600